CHP removed the vehicle and issued no citations in the incident, CHP officer Brad Sadek said.

Watsonville

The devices, when retrieved, contain credit card information skimmed from users' credit and debit cards, allowing identity thieves to make illegal use of personal information.

While a 7-Eleven gas station employee was in the process of performing routine maintenance on one of the card readers, a manager walked by and noticed the additional technology inside, said Watsonville police Sgt. Saul Gonzalez.

Gonzalez said it is difficult for gas station customers to protect themselves against this type of theft.

"It's tough because if they're savvy enough to go inside (the pump), it's hard to know what pumps have it," Gonzalez said. "The safest thing to do is to regularly check your accounts and immediately stop payment if anything suspicious (pops up)."

Scotts Valley

Robbery Suspect in solo crash >> A suspect in gas station robbery has been airlifted to a San Jose hospital after crashing on southbound Highway 1 Thursday afternoon.

Police did not release the man's identity, age or city of residence Thursday because he had not yet been arrested, a department official said.

A customer entering the 76 gas station on Mount Hermon Road at 12:05 p.m. to purchase beer was denied by the station clerk, who reportedly believed the man to be intoxicated, according to a release from Scotts Valley police Sgt. Mike Dean.

The gas station clerk stepped out of the customer's way when he threatened to retrieve a gun from his vehicle, according to the release. The suspect then allegedly went back to retrieve the beer and fled the store without paying.

About 15 minutes later, a man matching the suspect's description, who was traveling in a blue Honda Accord, was involved in a solo crash in Aptos on southbound Highway 1.

Scotts Valley police ask anyone with information to call the investigations unit at 831-440-5670 or the anonymous tip line at 831-438-8090.